SBIR-STTR Award

This research will investigate a blind mobility aid which uses kinesthetic feedback to intuitively communicate to the user the range and texture of surfaces in the extended environment. The handheld device will contain an infrared optical ranging module with the range output. The sensitivity and directivity of the device will allow users to feel textural aspects as small as one centimeter and spatial distances as great as 3.5 meters. The device has been specifically designed to overcome the limitations encountered by earlier electronic travel aids and is expected to provide a practical alternative to the long cane for many users. The goal of Phase I is to determine the effectiveness of different settings and configurations of the aid by having blind volunteers test the device on specific elements of mobility. Two examples of the elements of mobility are anticipating and responding to spatial features while walking and orienting oneself by identifying physical landmarks.Awardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research: A self-sustaining market for this low-cost device is expected. The market may be initially driven by the partially sighted and the newly blind who want an alternative to the long cane. Current cane and dog users who want to increase their spatial awareness may also be interested in this device.National Eye Institute (NEI)